Freelance writers are writers for hire. They aren’t actually employed by a specific company; instead, they work on various projects from a variety of sources. In a sense, they run their own businesses with their writing skills being the product offered for sale.
Freelance writers find that potential clients are everywhere. Virtually every magazine found on supermarket shelves is filled with submissions from freelance writers. Newspapers often run feature stories written by freelance writers. Textbooks, encyclopedias, and other reference books are commonly filled with the work of freelance writers. In addition, some publishers hire writers to work on books for a specific project under development.
Two other lucrative areas for freelancers are business writing and technical writing. Businesses of all kinds and sizes often hire freelance writers to work on projects such as proposals, speeches, annual reports, newsletters, brochures, and other publications. Some freelance writers work exclusively for public relations firms; advertising agencies, in particular, will use experienced writers to help with various projects. This way the agency handles the marketing aspects of finding clients, and the writer focuses on pleasing the client with well crafted written materials.
Technical writers are currently in big demand to translate software programs and other complicated documents into instructions that just about anyone can understand. Technical writing isn’t for everyone. Sometimes the work requires a writer to have very specialized technical knowledge as well as top notch writing skills.
Although the pay isn’t always quite as good, some freelance writers specialize in working with nonprofit organizations and charities. The ability to write clear and convincing grant proposals is a hot commodity among agencies that depend on funds from foundations and benevolent corporations for their support.
Instead of receiving a salary like an employee or royalties like an author, freelancers are generally paid a flat fee. There is a big gap between low end and top end fees: some projects pay as little as a few cents per word, while others pay a generous hourly rate, and still others, on a per-project basis.
Just like other independent business people, freelance writers must spend a good portion of their time marketing their services. This generally involves plenty of research, lots of good ideas, and many letters. The most successful freelancers take a very businesslike approach to their writing and are careful to market their services in a very professional manner. They don’t wait for business to come to them. Instead they are constantly seeking out writing assignments from a variety of interesting sources.
It is quite common for freelance writers to start out writing part time in addition to holding down another job. They continue to moonlight as writers until they’ve built up the experience and clientele to maintain a steady income from their writing.
More than anything else, it’s a freelance writer’s way with words that keeps the writing assignments coming. Writing well is the only credential that counts; however, education and experience can be the keys to opportunities for freelance writers to prove their skills. Most people who succeed as freelancers have a college background in fields such as liberal arts, communications, or journalism, and have gained experience working as a journalist, public relations writer, or editor. Writers with an entrepreneurial sense of adventure and deep reserves of creative ideas may find their future in freelance writing.
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